A different sight was seen at Faculty of Biology UGM on Friday (21/4) morning. The faculty auditorium which is usually used to held workshop and seminar was full of dozens of women wearing kebaya and jarik (Indonesian traditional cloth for woman) as well as men using beskap and jarik (Indonesian traditional cloth for man).
They posed like a model on the catwalk at the fashion show which was held by Faculty of Biology to celebrate Kartini’s Day. The guests and audience gave rousing applause and they often laughed out loud when there was a peculiar fashion presented by the fashion show model. The models were coming from students, lecturers, non-teaching staff, and alumnae of Faculty of Biology UGM. The Dean of the Faculty even joined the fashion show.
The Kartini’s Day Celebration 2017 was held by Faculty of Biology collaborating with Women’s Association Centre and Alumnae Association of Faculty of Biology UGM. This year celebration is entitled Kartini, the Soul of Indonesian Women.
The Head of the Event Committee, Ganies Riza Aristya, S.Si., M.Sc., said the event was held for two days from April 20 until April 21, 2017. Beside the fashion show which exhibited the Indonesian traditional cloth products of batik companies Chattra Kebaya, Juwita Batik, and Hatmoko Batik, the committee also held training for arranging flower, no-mirror-make-up competition, karaoke competition, cone-shaped rice decoration competition, as well as bazaar which sold Indonesian products.
At the peak of the event, the committee presented several keynote speakers from Chattara Kebaya who not only promoted their product but also engaged Indonesian women to participate in conserving culture of wearing Kebaya as well as giving tips and tricks on how to wear Kebaya elegantly.
“This event aims to conserve the culture which was promoted by Kartini and to strengthen the kinship among the big family of Faculty of Biology UGM,” said Ganies.
UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D. appreciated the event which was held by Faculty of Biology to celebrate Kartini’s Day. According to Dwikorita, Kartini is not only the Hero of women’s emancipation but also the pioneer of civilization in that era.
“Kartini had a vision in establishing an advanced civilization,” said Prof. Dwikorita.
During her speech, Dwikorita said Indonesian women had surpassed the emancipation phase. In these recent days, Indonesian women are entering the harmonization phase. Therefore, she hopes women of Faculty of Biology UGM can follow Kartini’s passion and dare to make innovations to improve the faculty based on gender harmonization.
Meanwhile, the Dean of Faculty of Biology UGM, Budi S. Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., Ph.D., hopes Indonesian women can keep shining and give their contributions to humanity and the nation.